Brokeback Mountain Breaks Out into Mainstream
"Brokeback Mountain" has broken out into Middle America - as the latest gay epithet. Some Gonzaga University fans have apparently taken to chanting it at opposing players, much to the embarrassment of university officials.
But there's a basic problem here: in heated athletic contests, partisan observers and the contestants themselves will look for metaphors that suggest the other side is relatively lacking in courage. The most obvious metaphor is one that suggests that the other side is less masculine. Thus, insults to gays or women are rather inevitable. And a novel or clever (I use the term loosely) metaphor is always in demand - and so the "unenlightened" will be quick to jump on the Brokeback bandwagon. I myself was a recent victim. In a discussion with a friend about chicken-fried steak (which I've never had - and shouldn't), I mused that a red-wine/fresh tomato sauce might be a good accompaniment - and was immediately met with a "Brokeback" retort (white gravy is apparently the sauce de jure).
Further reading: Here's Mickey Kaus summarizing his now notorious nay-saying on Brokeback's alleged mainstream appeal. And here's Sailer's quasi-review/analysis.
The chants were the subject of several classroom discussions over the past week, and the faculty advisers for the Kennel Club booster group urged students this week to avoid "inappropriate chants" during the Bulldogs' Saturday game against Stanford, which was nationally televised on ESPN. - via DrudgeWell, sure, a college ought to insist its students act in a respectful and civil manner when representing the school.
But there's a basic problem here: in heated athletic contests, partisan observers and the contestants themselves will look for metaphors that suggest the other side is relatively lacking in courage. The most obvious metaphor is one that suggests that the other side is less masculine. Thus, insults to gays or women are rather inevitable. And a novel or clever (I use the term loosely) metaphor is always in demand - and so the "unenlightened" will be quick to jump on the Brokeback bandwagon. I myself was a recent victim. In a discussion with a friend about chicken-fried steak (which I've never had - and shouldn't), I mused that a red-wine/fresh tomato sauce might be a good accompaniment - and was immediately met with a "Brokeback" retort (white gravy is apparently the sauce de jure).
Further reading: Here's Mickey Kaus summarizing his now notorious nay-saying on Brokeback's alleged mainstream appeal. And here's Sailer's quasi-review/analysis.
posted by ziel | 2/13/2006 10:01:00 PM
6 Comments:
I can only imagine such cannon fodder we could have used in the 70´s from the bleachers in Yankee Stadium.
Pudge wouldn't 've stood a chance!
What were they chanting?
While leafing through People magazine (my wife bought it, not me), I came upon a Valentine's Day feature about couples who were brought together by destiny. There were 3 or 4 heart warming stories involving husband and wife and then, there was the last one. I only looked at the picture, wherein was depicted 2 burly cowboys with their horses; and they were holding hands. In the background was a ridge or mountain.
So, apparently this type of relationship is quite common.
You must be right - People Mag never would have profiled them without validating that such couples are indeed very common - that just wouldn't be good journalism.
Dano - imagine "Broke-back Moun-tain" chanted to the rhythm of "Let's Go Ran-guz" - at least that's my guess.
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